Epithelial and cellular innate immune responses of anopheline malaria vectors to plasmodium parasites [Elektronische Ressource] / presented by Sofia B. Pinto

Epithelial and Cellular Innate Immune Responses of Anopheline Malaria Vectors to Plasmodium Parasites Sofia B. Pinto 2007 Dissertation submitted to the Combined Faculties of the Natural Sciences and the Mathematics of the Ruperto-Carola University of Heidelberg, DE for the degree of Doctor of Natural Sciences presented by Sofia B. Pinto BSc Hons born in Oeiras, Portugal Oral examination Epithelial and Cellular Innate Immune Responses of Anopheline Malaria Vectors to Plasmodium Parasites Gutachter (Erst): Dr A. Ephrussi (EMBL) Gutachter (Zweit):Prof M. Lanzer (Uni. Heidelberg) Mitglieder (Erst): Prof L. Krauth-Siegel (Uni. Heidelberg) Mitglieder (Zweit): Dr L. Steinmetz (EMBL) (Referees) Wissenschaftlicher Anleiter: Prof FC Kafatos Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg & European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) 2007 Thesis Abstract Anopheles gambiae is the most prominent vector of human malaria in Africa. The causative agents of this disastrous disease are unicellular eukaryotic parasites of the genus Plasmodium which are transmitted to humans by infected female mosquitoes when they take a blood meal. During its development in the mosquito, Plasmodium undergoes massive losses suggesting that mosquitoes are able to mount an immune response that limits parasite infection.